Today, let’s take some time to check our progress. How are you doing with the first 50 days of preparation for Christmas? Do you know where you’re spending Christmas this year, or are you playing host/ess? Menu? Guests? Have you scheduled a family portrait sitting and selected/ordered Christmas cards? Are you handmaking gifts this year? [...]
I love fabric gift bags! Simple ones are very easy to make, even for a beginning crafter. Check out this simple pattern and instructions here. Anytime is a good time to start collecting fabric remnants and scraps, as well as sale fabric. You also want to stockpile sewing notions, trim, and other decorations (like beads, [...]
Christmas can be a hectic, overscheduled time of year. One very easy way to keep your family healthy and sane is to have a simple family dinner together as often as possible. This is made even easier by cooking in a slow cooker or picking up a prepared rotisserie chicken from your local market or [...]
This is a novel but necessary concept for many people in this economic climate. Forced by circumstance (lay-off, bankruptcy, foreclosure, health problems, other catastrophes,) many Americans will be having a “Buy Nothing” Christmas, or at least a “Buy a WHOLE LOT LESS” Christmas this year. Even if you aren’t under tremendous economic pressure, there are [...]
Now that you’ve decided to host Christmas dinner at your place this year, it’s time to think about your tablescape. A great tablescape adds a lot to the atmosphere of your dinner when done well. My favorite way to serve the food for a big dinner is buffet style. If you choose to do that, [...]
A little calligraphy goes a long way to adding that special personal touch. During the holidays, I immediately think of using it on place cards for the holiday table, gift tags, and handmade Christmas Cards. For kids, a little calligraphy practice will improve their regular everyday handwriting! Calligraphy doesn’t have to be perfect or follow [...]
Make a Smilebox scrapbook A fun activity to get familiar with is digital scrapbooking. We just took a family vacation to Georgia, and it took me about an hour to pick out photos and put them into a cute little scrapbook. It was also a lot cheaper than traditional scrapbooking, and no mess. At Smilebox, [...]
Still haven’t found that unique Christmas card picture idea? Let the kids take pictures of very shiny Christmas tree ball ornaments. Their reflection will be captured in the photo! Voila! I think this is a fantastic and clever photo idea for the photo enthusiast. Photo courtesy of L. E. MacDonald.
Collecting Christmas tree ornaments is a fun hobby that anyone can manage. Our family collects ornaments from family vacations. We have a lot of Disney ornaments, in particular. Do you collect ornaments, and if you do, do you have a theme? Here’s a list of some interesting themes if you want to start collecting. Disney [...]
Here’s a gift to consider for that special family on your list. Find out what’s available in your gift recipient’s area and get them an annual membership. In our area, some of the favorite places include the zoo, science museum, aquarium, children’s museum, art museums, and others. If your recipients already have a membership, it [...]